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Can My Tesla Charge in the Rain?

Can My Tesla Charge in the Rain?

Tesla vehicles are growing in popularity, but one common question that’s asked is if they’re safe to charge in the rain. After all, they are electric vehicles, and certainly, no one wants to get shocked just trying to power up their car!

Teslas can charge in the rain thanks to the charging components have several layers of built-in protection to ensure safety, and the electrical current does not begin flowing until the car and charger make a sound connection. However, you should still avoid allowing the charger to become completely submerged in water.

While the short answer is yes, a Tesla can charge in the rain, there are still some precautions that one should take for their own safety and the long-term health of their vehicle.

Tesla Charging in the Rain: Can it Be Done? 

So, with the need to charge your Tesla whether you are on the road or at home, what happens when the weather makes things more difficult?

Rain can stop you in your tracks and make you think about whether you should attempt to still charge your vehicle and continue your travel, or take some time to see if the rain lets up. 

Water is a good conductor of electricity, so it makes sense that people assume that rain would cause some sort of electrical shock to the person attempting to plug in their vehicle. But that is not necessarily the truth.

Luckily, if you were guessing that you would be able to charge your Tesla while it is raining, then you are correct!

The components that are used to connect your vehicle to the charger are made of high-quality materials that are designed for outdoor use. They can handle being used in the rain and can safely be used without issues arising in the process. 

The charger cord can be plugged into the vehicle and there will be a current flowing, but until the vehicle and charger communicate and have an agreed-upon current starting, the electrical current will not be as high in the cable.

This ensures your safety and the safety of your vehicle so rain and water will not cause any damage while you are hooking everything up.

In simpler terms, you can connect the charger to your vehicle without the electrical charge flowing. Only after the charger is connected to your vehicle’s battery will the current begin to flow at its full rate to charge the battery quickly. 

Because of this setup, you are able to charge your Tesla in the rain, but that doesn’t mean that you should not take any precautions at all.

In certain situations, like when you are charging your car at home, you want to double-check a few things to ensure that you are charging your car safely.

Safety First!

While it’s not likely that you would do this intentionally, the Tesla owner’s manual recommends to never spray a high-velocity liquid at the vehicle during charging.

Common examples of this might include a pressure washer being used to wash your Tesla (more information on this topic here). Simply be mindful of what you’re doing around (and to) your car while it’s charging.

You might feel safer when charging your car at home rather than on the road, but that might not be the case. When you are charging at home and using a regular outlet, you could be putting yourself and your vehicle at a higher risk.

The charging stations are built to withstand many weather conditions. An outlet on your house may not have the same high-quality safety features that will keep you perfectly safe if there is heavy precipitation.

For one, the outlets are not always safe from the rain itself.

When the wind is involved, rain can come down at an angle that could reach the outlet. This could cause an issue if it is not indoors, or completely covered by an awning or roof ledge.  

Because they are not made with the same level of safety and use that is meant for charging stations that are made to be outdoors in all weather, you could be taking a risk by using an outdoor outlet at your home to plug in your vehicle instead of an outlet that is in your garage or hooked up inside through the use of an extension cord.

Don’t Push Your Luck  

Although chargers are designed for outdoor use, you also don’t want to take that for granted or forget that you should still act as though you are in the rain.

Covering the cord as you plug it into your vehicle and ensuring that you are not taking your sweet time and allowing water to make its way into any of your car’s compartments should still be a goal. 

You don’t want to tempt fate and it is always better to be safe than sorry. Water can cause other issues, like puddles, which you could drop the cord into.

Although waterproofing the charging station is a great thing, it doesn’t mean that it would still work when submerged underwater. So, get the cord attached to your vehicle, and don’t mess around and end up causing a problem for yourself. 

Plus, remember, you are not the only person to use these charging stations. If one of the chargers were compromised by misuse from another vehicle owner, you might be on the receiving end of their karma.

So, take precautions to ensure that other issues won’t damage your vehicle. 

Electric Charging 

As a convenient way to be able to find and hook up to a charging station on the road, Tesla drivers can find areas with built-in chargers along their way that they will travel so they can make stops accordingly.

This allows owners to feel like they can still take long trips and drives without worrying about their battery dying. 

These charging stations let you plug in your vehicle and charge your battery for up to around 30 minutes. You can even download the Tesla app so you are notified through your phone when your vehicle is done charging. 

However, that is not the only way to go about it. There are other options available as well, like the wall connector that allows you to plug your car into it at your home so you can charge your vehicle each night, as needed. 

How Electric Cars Work 

An electric vehicle, although similar to regular vehicles in size and style, operate differently when it comes to the engine. Unlike a typical vehicle that has an internal combustion engine, electric cars have a large traction battery that powers their electric motor. 

Because electric vehicles have different types of batteries than internal combustion engines, they must be charged in order to maintain their power. Some use electric charging stations, while others can be plugged into a common wall GFCI wall outlet. 

Benefits of an Electric Vehicle 

With the effects of global climate changes causing many companies and individuals to change their lifestyle habits, the automotive industry has taken an innovative approach to cut down emissions from driving cars and producing vehicles that have a lower impact on the environment.

Electric vehicles don’t run on gas, which keeps the air cleaner as it runs.

These cars also accelerate faster than traditional vehicles, which can make them feel a lot lighter as you drive. They also have a battery that is typically under warranty for a long time and is meant to last close to 100,000 miles. 

Final Thoughts 

Although you may have come to this article thinking that the answer to this question would surely be a no, you can leave with some new information that can make a difference to you when you are traveling or commuting in your Tesla.

Rain or shine won’t stop you from driving your electric car, and not you know exactly why that is and how you can best keep yourself while charging your car. 

However, it should be mentioned that the condition of your car should be taken into consideration. Teslas are newer vehicles, but other electric cars are not all made to the same level.

This means that the condition of your used vehicle might not be up to the high standard of a Tesla. If you are choosing to charge your older electric car in rain, especially without taking any precautions, you are taking a risk. 

The good news is that if you drive a Tesla model, you are on the top of the heap and can basically use your car in whatever weather you find yourself in.

On the road, you might need to find some stops to charge your car before you head out, but with a little preparation and knowledge, you can take a road trip in your Tesla, and rain will not stop you.

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Zach Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of VehicleAnswers.com! Having owned a wide variety of vehicles in my life, I was astounded at how hard it can be to find answers to common automotive questions. Rather than sit idly, I decided to create this website to help others!